HERNDON, Va., March 20, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is expanding its smart card systems and services for the Department of the Army. Through a task order from the General Services Administration, Northrop Grumman Information Technology (IT) will deliver middleware that allows smart cards to communicate with computers and computer applications for the Army's Common Access Card (CAC) program.

Under the terms of the award, Northrop Grumman IT will provide middleware for signing and encrypting email, cryptologic network logon, client authentication for web sites, and secure data transmission to other applications such as virtual private network, remote access, and work flow. A smart card is a computer chip-based identification token that is capable of enabling the identification and authentication process. The CAC is the Department of Defense version that is issued to all active duty, guard and reserve personnel.

"This award is the fourth we've received and continues our record of support for the GSA smart card program and the U.S. Army," said Jim Perriello, president, Government Solutions, Northrop Grumman IT. "This win reinforces Northrop Grumman's position as an industry leader providing smart card and related solutions to both government and commercial customers. This is a critical time in the implementation of more effective security initiatives, and we are ready to capitalize on our demonstrated record of experience and performance to support this expanding market."

Northrop Grumman IT will assist in integration, distribution and support of the hardware and software needed by Active Army, National Guard, and Army Reserve users. Northrop Grumman IT will support the use their CAC to access Department of Defense Public Key Infrastructures and CAC infrastructures for security and data services in the unclassified, sustaining base environment.

The contract is valued at $9 million over three years.

Work on the CAC program will be performed at Northrop Grumman IT's facility in Reston, Va. The company's team members include Northrop Grumman's primary middleware vendor, ActivCard, Fremont, Calif.; RSA Security, Boston, Mass.; and SSP Litronic, Reston, Va.